Zambia's impressive displays in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers generated genuine hope that the good times would soon be back for the 2012 African champions, and the arrival of Sven Vandenbroeck was expected to further accelerate the team's revival.

As the Southern Africans survey the wreckage in the aftermath of yet another crushing exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, however, it is not easy to escape the conclusion that Vandenbroeck's appointment in July actually precipitated Zambia's stunning...

KweséESPN takes a look at the biggest winners and losers after the first four match days of Africa Cup of Nations 2019 qualifying.

WINNERS

First Qualifiers
There can be no bigger winner than Madagascar, who became the first country to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The homeland of the CAF president did so in record-breaking style -- first, with two full games to spare, and doing so for the first time in their history. Great news for the country, although television commentators...